Effect of exercise therapy on muscle mass and physical functioning in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is associated with transplant-related toxicities, which may have a profound impact on a patient's physical functioning and body composition. In order to analyze the effect of exercise therapy on muscle mass and physical functioning in patients receiving allo-HSCT, we measured muscle mass and physical functioning before and after allo-HSCT. Eighty-six patients who had undergone allo-HSCT between February 2010 and September 2013 at Imamura Bun-in Hospital participated in this study. Physical therapists performed exercise therapy with patients 5 days a week, starting 2 weeks before allo-HSCT. Body composition, 6-min walk test (6MWT) scores, and handgrip strength were evaluated 2 weeks before allo-HSCT and 6 weeks after allo-HSCT. Thirty-five patients were available for evaluation 2 weeks before and 6 weeks after allo-HSCT. The 6MWT (p = 0.005) and handgrip strength (p < 0.001) significantly decreased after allo-HSCT. Although upper extremity muscle mass (p = 0.001) and trunk muscle mass (p < 0.001) significantly decreased after allo-HSCT, lower extremity muscle mass remained unchanged. In this study, it is suggested that exercise therapy may be effective for maintaining lower extremity muscle mass in patients undergoing allo-HSCT.